Lesson 4240

 (Lesson 4240)(08-31-23) Mark 9:1-9

    “ And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.”

   In today’s quote, while appearing with Moses and Elias, Jesus was again confirmed by the voice of God the Father as being His Son.~

Lesson 4239

 (Lesson 4239)(08-30-23) Mark 8:34-38

    “ And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” 

    In today’s quote, Jesus made it crystal clear that in order to achieve eternal salvation from sin, one’s faith in Him must be total and absolute.

    If one’s faith is in the physical works he/she might do, or in rituals like water baptism etc., that one is doomed to eternal punishment in hell. 

    As Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.”

    Those who claim to have faith in the blood of Jesus Christ, yet “hold to the one” erroneous contention that water baptism remits sin, must also believe that the blood of Jesus, on it’s own, does not have the power to “justify” sin, and that they must help Jesus out by washing away thier own sins with water.~

Lesson 4238

 (Lesson 4238)(08-29-23) Mark 8:31-33

    “And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.”

    Today’s quote relates that when Jesus told His apostles that He would soon face death and would rise again after three days, Peter began to scold Him; Whereafter, Jesus called Peter “Satan”. That action is very ironic in that Peter is said to have been chosen by Jesus to be the foundation for His church. I find it odd that the person upon whom Christ’s church was founded would be called Satan.~

Lesson 4237

 (Lesson 4237)(08-28-23) Mark 8:27-30

    “And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am? And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.”

    In today’s quote, Peter professed his faith that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. After which, Jesus then told His apostles to keep that fact a secret among themselves. ~

Lesson 4236

 (Lesson 4236)(08-27-23) Mark 8:22-26

    “ And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.”

    Today’s quote makes it appear that it took Jesus two tries to make the blind man see. I don’t know what the circumstances were with Jesus and that particular blind man, but I can assure you with ALL faith, it would NEVER take Jesus two tries to accomplish ANYTHING He wanted to accomplish in one.~

Lesson 4235

 (Lesson 4235)(08-26-23) Mark 8:14-21

    “Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf. And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread. And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?”

    Today’s quote clears up a mess I made two days ago when I connected the two SEPARATE miracles that Jesus performed when He first fed five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes, and then, at a different time, fed over four thousand with seven loaves and a few fishes. I sincerely apologize for that, very obvious mistake on my part. Jesus indeed performed to distinctly different, and great, miracles.

    Forgive me, I will try to do better.~

Lesson 4234

 (Lesson 4234)(08-25-23) Mark 8:10-13

    “And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha. And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation. And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.”

    In today’s quote, Jesus demonstrated His frustration with the Pharisees for their lack of faith.~